The Eagles Are Coming!

So I've had at least a dozen people ask me this question upon being told my Twitter handle or blog URL: "Eagles are coming? What the heck does that mean?" 

Those are the kind of people I shoot on sight. 

Just kidding. But seriously. Those of you who know me pretty well know that I'm a HUGE Lord of the Rings fan. My father read Tolkien's books to me when I was very young and I fell in love with them. Even at a young age of six I avidly followed the production of the film adaptations, and saw the second two in theatres. I now watch them on an almost weekly basis and read the books at least twice a year.

The phrase "the eagles are coming" is a reference to the end of both The Hobbit and The Return of the King. In both books, the characters find themselves in over their heads, fighting off hordes of enemies but quickly losing hope. It is at this point that the massive eagles that inhabit the mountains of Middle Earth arrive and save the day. Invariably, someone yells out "The eagles! The eagles are coming!"

So now you know. I'm a huge Tolkien fan, and this is my homage to his work. 

But there's more to the story. 

More than once in the last year or so I've found myself in over my head. Like, majorly over my head. But like the eagles in Tolkien's tales, God invariably comes to my rescue. Note the phrasing here: the eagles are coming. The eagles aren't here yet. They might not show up in time to stop the pain. People might die. But it doesn't matter. They are on the way. There's hope. In this same way, God doesn't always show up when I want Him to. But as much as I resent Him in that time, He always arrives at the right time. In the words of Gandalf, "A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to!" 

Why the poem, you ask? Well, regardless of whether you asked or not, I'm telling you. This is my blog and I'll do what I like with it. I don't need your approval. 

The poem is also a Tolkien bit from The Fellowship of the Ring. I may be young but I've been down a lot of roads. Some of them were good; others ended in pain and forced me to turn back. The point is, no matter what hardships we face, the Road goes ever on and on. Life doesn't slow up just because we don't like how it's going. There's always a chance for a new start. A grand adventure may be waiting just around the corner. And whatever happens, be it good or bad, I must follow the Road if I can. 

Song for today: May It Be by Enya. This song is featured at the end of the film adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring. Take a look at the lyrics if you get a chance. It's good stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP9Zj1CkPy8

That's all I've got for tonight. God bless!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.